Asparagus trimming and canning machine



June 2, 1931. c. c. MCDONAU'D T A 1,808,676

ASPARAGUS' TRIMMING AND GANNING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY June'Z, 1931". c. c.- M DONALD ET AL AS PARAG US'TRIMMING AND CANNING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR CCMDOnald and C L Wautman ATTORNEY June 1931- c. c. M DONALD ETAL 2 ,676

,ASPA-RAGUS. TRIMMING AND CANNIYNG MACHINE Filed Tpril 28, 19286-Sheets-Sheet 4 z INVENTOR Z9 CfCAlDonald and v CLTH oatman BY fl 41%ATTORNEY June2, 1931. c, cv M DONALD ET AL 1,808,676

ASPARAGUS TRIMMING AND CANNING MACHINE v Filed April 28, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 5 uni INVENTOR I aCM nMau and BY CLTioutman ATTORNEYPatented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oF CHARLES C. MCDONALD ANDCHARLES L. TROU'I'MAN, OF ELYRIA, OHIO ASPARAGUS TRIM'MINGAND CANNINGMACHINE Application filed April as,

Our invention relates to asparagus trimmin'g and canning machine and anobject thereof is to provide an automatically operable machine whereincans or other recep- A; tacles are advanced to filling position, the

asparagus butts severed and a bunch of asparagus packed in each can.

Afurther'object of the invention is to provide an ap aratus of thischaracter which is continuous y operated to perform the asparagusbuttsevering operation and to pack the asparagus into cans therebyfacilitating the packing or canning of asparagus.

The invention also contemplates a machine for trimming and canninge'dibles having means for holding the edibles in advance of a can andareciprocable plunger .or ejector which is operable to eject ediblesinto the can.

With the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind; theinvention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructionsand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to,claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevationo'f'themachine;

Figure 2 is a similar view taken at'the opposite end of the machine;

I Figure 3 is a rear face view;

Figure 4: 1s a front elevation of the'machine Figure 5 is a fragmentarytop plan view of mechanism embodied in the invention;

nism illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view and illustrating the canconveyor;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view.

on line 88 of Figure 7; a

Figure 9 is a detail elevation of coacting beveled gear stop platesembodied in the -in-- edges of the base plate.

Figure 6 is a'front elevation of the mech'a- 1928 Serial No. 273,676.

Figure 13 is a perspective of the sliding door or abutment. v

Referring to the invention in detail an angularly disposed base plate 5supported on vertical legs 6 is provided and cast with the upper. faceof the plate 5 and extending transversely thereof is the can retaininghopper or trough 7 whose inner end is open and extends to a pointintermediate the longitudinal Within the confines of the hopper or.trough 7 the plate 5 is provided with a longitudinal opening 8 which isdisposed centrally ofthe side walls ofthe hopper or trough, andp'ositioned in this opening is a shaft 9 journalled in bearings 10formed with theplate, and rota'table therewithis a screw conveyor 11 foradvancing cans longitudinally of the hopper or trough.

For the purpose of holding asparagus in a circular bunch, coacting fixedand movable circular jaws 12 and 13 are provided on the base plateslightly above the hopper or j trough, at the open end of the latter;The fixed jaw 12 is formed with a forwardly projecting extension 12"having a dove-tail groove 14; in its upper' face, whiley'the movablejawis formed with a dove-tail tongue 15"slidably received in thegroove 14.For

"the purpose of actuating the movable jaw '80 towards and away from thefixed'jaw a pitj' man rod 16 extending-parallel to the trough or hopperhas-one end operativelyconnected with the movable jaw,as at 17, whileits opposite end is eccentrical-ly connected witha rotatable disk '18fiXe-dto one end ofashaft 1 9 'journalled in a bearing "20 upon theunder face of the base plate, at its lower edge.

A power take-off shaft 21 extends transversely of the base plate 5 andis journalled in bearings 22 upon the outer face thereof and carriesoppositely disposed interrupted beveled gears 28-and24:. lhe shaft 19carries a gear 19a'whichmeshesfwith the gea-r23,

Movable transversely of the base plate 5 and adapted to-extend acrossand close the lower ends of the coaotingj aws when in grippingengagernent withabunch of asparagus, is an abutment or sliding door'26.This abut-'1 ment is formed with a depending arm or shank 27 which ismovable longitudinally within, a transverse slot 28 in the base'plate. AU-shaped pitman 29 has one end pivotally connected with the arm 27 andits opposite end eccentrically connected with a disk 30 fixed to one endof a shaft 31 extending parallel to the shaft 19 and j ournalled in abearing 32 upon the outer face of the base plate. This shaft 31 isprovided with a beveled gear 32 which meshes with the interrupted gear24. 7 p V V A cutting blade or knife 34 is provided for severing thebutts of the asparagus stalks as they are held between the coactingjaws.

This blade is slidable transversely of the base plate across the upperends of these jaws and carriesa depending arm 36 movable in a transverseslot 37 in the base plate. v A pit man rod 38 has one end eccentricallyconnected with a disk 39 fixed to a shaft 40journalled in a bearing 41upon the outer face of the base plate, and its opposite end pivotallyconnected with the arm 36. A beveled gear 42 is fixed to one end of theshaft 40 and meshes with an'interrupte'd beveled gear 43 rotatable witha shaft 44 extending at'right angles to the shaft 40. A pinion 45rotatable-with the shaft 44 engages a larger pinion 46 fixed to theadjacent end of the'shaft 22. It follows that the power is taken fromthe shaft 22 by way 'of'the operative connections referred to,

to intermittently reciprocate the knife or cut-.

ter 34. p I The invention provides means for moving asparagus. stalks,held between the jaws into a can after the butts have been severed, inthe form of a'reciprocatory cylindrical ejector or plunger 46 slidablymounted in upstand ing guides 47 on the upper face of the base plate inlongitudinal alinement with the coacting jaws, and movable therethroughwhen the latter are in the operative position illustrated in Figure 7.This ejector or plunger is of a diameter slightly smaller than the cans,to be packed and thecoacting jaws when in operative position.

To retain the cans against the screw con-c veyor and to hold each can 1nposltion as it is advanced to filling position below the coacting jaws,a resilient arm 48 extends longitudinally within the trough or hopper atthe upper end thereof and is secured to resilient brackets 49 attachedtothe lower side wall of the trough or hopper and projecting at rightangles thereto. This resilient arm normally contacts with all of thecans withinthe hopper to retain them against the blade of the screwconveyor. At its forward end a longitudinally curved can embracing seat50 is provided in the resilient arm, which normally engages theforwardmost'; can and retains it in a concavity or can seat 51 in theupperface of the extension 12 of the jaw 12. It will be observed thatthe forward end of the resilient arm will engage each can as it isadvanced to filling positionand-firmly hold it in place while beingfilled or packed.

A main power shaft 52 extending trans- Versely of the base plate at itsrear lower edge, is j ournalled in bearings 53 thereof and carries atone end a beveled gear 54 which meshes with a beveled gear 55 fixed toone A vertical shaft 58, journalled in vertically i alined bearings 59and 60 on the outer face of the base plate, carrying a beveled gear 61at its lower end, meshing with adrive gear 62 on the drive shaft 52, isprovided. At

its upper end the shaft 58 carries a beveled 7 gear 63 meshing with asmaller gear 64ifixe d.

to one end of a horizontal shaft 65 journalled in a bearing 66projecting laterally from the upper end ofth'ebase plate and which'car-.

ries at its rear 1 end an interrupted beveled gear 67. This gear 67meshes with a beveled gear 68 fixed'to one end of a crank shaft 69,

the latter beingljournalled in the outer end of a laterally projectingarm 70 extending per end. A connecting rod 71 has one end pivotallyconnected with the crank shaft from the rear face of the base plate atits upf and its opposite end extended at right angles,

as at 7 2, and pivotally connected with a crack et '7 3 fixed to theunder face of the ejectorv or" plunger.

In order tohold the conveyor shaft, mov able jaw, abutment or door 26andcutter34 against accidental movement when their coincidlng beveledgears arestatlonary, in-

cident to the companion interrupted'gear forv the latter coming to aposition where its'blank surface rides overthe teeth'lof these gears,

locking means is 'providedfo'r each pair'of companion or. rightangularly disposed gears.

For the sake of simplicity this locking means will be de'scribedinconjunction with gears and 68, respectively. However, it is to be understood that this lockingmeans is employed throughout the entiremachlne where two I companion or right angularly disposed gears,

the driving "one of which is an interrupted gear, are employed fortaking power from onerotatable element and transmitting it to theabutment or sliding door, movable jaw,

cutter and reciprocating plunger or ejector.

This locking means comprises a disk 75 fixed to the rear face of thedriving interrupted bevelled gear 67 and cutaway at one side,

opposite the teeth thereof as at 7 6. Disposed at rightangles to theplane of rotation of the disk 7 5 and fixed to the rear face of thedriven bevelled gear 68 is a plate 77 having right is disposed inopposed relation to the gear 68,

the latter is free to rotate by reason of the plate 77 clearing thedisk.

It will be noted that all interrupted gears are continuously rotatingdrive gears, therefore, when the blank space thereon passes over theteeth of a companion driven gear, the driven gear will be permitted tostop momentarily. When the teeth on the interrupted drive gears againcome into contact with the teeth on the driven gears, the part driven bysuch gears will be caused to pass through another complete cycle ofoperation.

Operation The power shaft being in motion, the coasting jaws being inthe position illustrated in Figure 4 to grasp a bunch of asparagusstalks chine, an angularly dlsposed base plate, co-

therebetween, and the sliding door or abutment extending across thelower ends of the coacting jaws, the knife 34 is advanced to the left tosever the asparagus stalk butts and then returned to normal positionwhere it remains momentarily stationary. As the knife is returning tonormal position the door or abutment is retracted to uncover the lowerends of the coacting jaws and remains in a position to one side of thelatter momentarily. The plunger or ejector is now moved downwardlybetween the coacting jaws engaging the bunched asparagus stalks,ejecting the latter into a can which has been previously advanced toline up with these jaws. The ejector or plunger now returns to normalposition where it is held stationary momentarily, and at the same timethe movable jaw moves away from the fixed jaw and is held in thisposition for a suflicient period of time to permit a bunch of asparagusto be placed between the latter and the fixed j aw. The movable jaw anddoor or abutment now move to the right and the entire operation isrepeated. The interrupted sections of the drive gears, 4, 23, 24, 43 and67 are of such length and are so spaced relative to each other that theabove operations are caused to occur in their proper sequence and inproper timed relation. The stop mechanism which prevents accidentalrotation of the driven gears at, 19, 32, 42 and 68, due to momentum orother causes, further insures the proper operation of the parts incorrect timed relation.

What is claimed is: I

1. In an automatic stalk canning and trimming machine, a base, fixed andmovable coacting jaws mounted thereon for retaining stalks in bunchedrelation, a sliding door normally'closing one end of the jaws to retainthe stalks therein, a cutter operable across the other end of said jawsto sever projecting'ends of the stalks, a reciprocating ejector forejecting the stalks into a can placed in registration with the jaws whenin operative position, and a common mechanism for'actuating the cutter,door, ejector and movable jaw to operative and inoperative positions intimed relation.

2. In a stalk trimming and packing machine, a base, coacting fixed andmovable jaws for holding bunched stalks, a door slidable on the base andnormally closing one end of the jaws, a cutter movable across theopposite end of the jaws for trimming the stalks, a

reciprocable ejector movable at right angles to the movable jaw, meansfor singly advancmg cans to a posltion coinciding with the. awswhen noperative posltion, and

means for impart'ng movement to the door,

movable jaw, cutter, ejector and can advancng. means whereby said partsare actuat ed in sequence. l 8. In a stalk trimmlng and canning maactingfixed and movable jaws arranged thereon andadapted to hold stalks in acylindrical bunch, means for holding the can 4:. An apparatus of thecharacter described comprising a vertically inclined base plate, fixedand movable jaws mounted thereon for holding bunched. stalks, aplurality of rotatable. elements'supported from the base plate,

a sliding door normally closing the lower ends of the jaws, a cuttermovable across the; opposite ends of'the jaws, operative connec-. tionsbetween the rotatable elements, cutter, movable jaw and door whereby tomove the cutter, movable jaw and door over the base, 7

plate in timed relation, and'a reciprocable plunger movable between thejaws to eject objects therefrom into a can supported inlongitudinalalinement with the plunger and the jaws when the cutter anddoor are dis- 1 posed in inoperative positions;

5. An apparatus of thecharacter described comprising a verticallyinclined base plate, fixed and movable jaws mounted thereonfor holdingbunched stalks, a plurality of rotatable elements supported from thebase plate, a slidin door normally closing. the lower ends of t e jaws,a cutter movable acrossthe opposite ends of'the jaws, operativeconnections between the rotatable elements, cutter,

movablexj aw and doorwhereby to move outter, movable jaw and dooroverthe base plate movable between the jaws to eject objects therefrom intoa can supported in longitu-- dinal alinement with the jaws and plungerwhen the cutter and door are disposed in inoperative positions, andmeans for stopping the movement of the cutter, movable jaw, door andplungerfat predetermined intervals.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a verticallyinclined base plate, fixed and movable jaws mounted thereon for holdingbunched stalks, a plurality of rotatable elements supported from thebase plate, a sliding door normally closing thelower ends of the jaws, acutter movable across the opposite endsof the jaws, operative connectionbetween the rotatable elements, cutter, movable jaw and door whereby tomove the cutter, movable jaw and door over the base plate in timedrelation, a reciprocable plunger movable between the jaws to ejectobjects therefrominto a can supported in longitudinal alinement with thejaws and plunge when the cutter and door are disposed in inoperativepositions,and means for intermittently actuating the cutter, movablejaw, door and plunger atpredetermined intervals, including pairs ofrotatable elements disposed'at right'angles to each other, one of a eachpair of which being cut away to permit the other to pass atpredetermined times and against which the other engages normally to holdone member of each pair stationary.

'Z. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting frame,arearwardly inclined plate supported thereon, means at one end of theplate for advancing cans in a transverse direction, means for holdingthe cans in a position for filling after they are advanced, coactingfixed and movable semicircular jaws on the plate for holding asparagusstalks therebetween withtheir butts projecting, a door slidably mountedon the plate to" normally close the lower ends of the jaws, a cuttermovable transversely of the upper ends of the jaws and in parallelism tothe latter to sever the asparagus butts, and

' a plunger slidably mounted on the plate for movement between the jawsto eject the asparagus bunch therefrom and deposit the same within acan. 7

8. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a supporting frame, arearwardly inclined plate supported thereon, means at one end ofthe'plate for advancing cans in a transverse direction, means forholding the cans in a position for filling after they are advanced,coacting fixed and movable semicircularjaws on the plate for holdingas-- paragus stalks therebetween with their .butts projecting, a doorslidably'mounted on the plate to normally close the lower ends of thejaws, a cutter movable transversely of the upper'ends of the jaws and inparallelism to the door, a plunger slidably' mounted on the plate in'alinement with the jaws and adapted to pass between the latter to ejectthe asparagus bunch therefrom and deposit the same within the can, anddriving means for actuating the movable jaw, cutter, door and plunger intimed relation.

CHARLES 0.. MCDONALD.

CHARLES L. TROUTMAN.

